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Velvett Fogg (U.K. Rock Band)

 The band in 1969

Velvett Fogg are a cult British psychedelic rock  band.  Tony Iommi was a member in

mid-1968, but soon left to form Black abbath. Their lone eponymous  album  was

released in !anuary 1969, and re-released on "# by anctuary $ecords in %&&%.

Development

'e(ett )o**+% +++/ were one of many new bands within the 0under*round0 scene, that

were formed at the end of 196&s that would attempt to take pop music to a hi*her le(el

of creati(ity. Birmin*ham also had its own flourishin* under*round music scene durin*

that time with a (ariety of inno(ati(e *roups emer*in*.

The line up of 'el(ett )o** all came from within this alternati(e music scene in the city.

'el(ett )o** were formed in 1968 from members of a Birmin*ham band ra(y Train.

2p front was soul  sin*er 3rnie 4andy, Bob 4ewitt was lead *uitarist, with raham5ullett on drums, and 5ick ollard on  bass *uitar .7ondoner  )rank ilson who played

4ammond or*an, was also on (ocals, en(entually, becomin* band leader and lead

(ocalist.

The newly formed band spent most of the year tourin* ermany playin* at army bases

and clubs.

Their sta*e act included a li*ht show and a *o-*o dancer 

The Velvett Fogg  Album

Tracklit!

&1 - ellow "a(e oman

&% - :ew ork 5inin* #isaster 

& - i;ard of obsolod

& - <nce =mon* the Trees

&/ - 7ady "aroline

&6 - "ome =way 5elinda

&> - <wed to the #ip

&8 - ithin the :i*ht

&9 - lastic 5an

1& ? Telstar 

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<n their return to Birmin*ham, the band, now mana*ed by an a*ency called Inter "ity

=rtists, were *i(en a record deal by !ack #orsey of ye $ecords. It was also a time

when it seemed that the more unusual or contro(ersial a band was, then the *reater 

chance there would be for success in the record business. The record label was lookin*

to si*n unusual 0under*round music0 acts and 'el(ett )o** were told to, in !ack 

#orsey@s words, 0de(elop an ima*e that would make people think you would piss on the pope0A Ceith 7awD.

The initial line-up of 'el(ett )o** featured *uitarist Tony Iommi later to make the bi*

time with Black abbathD.

Iommi was in the line-up for only one *i* before he left to be replaced temporarily by

Ian 7ei*hton. 7ei*hton was 0a *reat blues *uitarist0 said his friend )rank ilson. It was

durin* this time that  ye $ecords arran*ed a photo-shoot of the band for the co(er of 

their proposed first album.

Before recordin* could be*in in late 1968, Ian 7ei*hton departed 'el(ett )o** and was

replaced by *uitaristE(ocalist aul 3astment a cousin of the band@s pre(ious *uitaristTony IommiD. aul 3astment was also to contribute ori*inal compositions for the album

alon* with )rank ilson, raham 5ullet and 5ick ollard.

'el(ett )o** recorded the tracks for their debut album under direction of ye $ecords

 producer  !ack #orsey. =pparently, #orsey aimed to *et the band onto the then-popular 

0 pro*ressi(e0 band wa*on. 0I was a classically trained  pianist but we all had to play

way below our capabilities0 says )rank ilson. The band were also allowed to record

co(ers of a few son*s they liked and these included  psychedelic-soundin* (ersions of 

 :ew ork 5inin* #isaster 191  by The Bee ees  and Tim $ose@s "ome =way

5elinda.

Ceith 7aw in 1969

Keith "a#

<ri*inal son*s for the 'el(ett )o** album would be supplied by Ceith 7aw sin*er and

son*writerD+6+>+8, a  local  who became a friend of the band. = (eteran of the est

5idlands music science, 7aw played with such *roups as The Williamsons,  Love and 

Understanding ,  Paint , and Jardine. In his initial writin* sessions with the band 7aw

came up with @ellow "a(e oman@, @<nce =mon* The Trees@ and @ithin@ The :i*ht@.

Album $over $ontrover%

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'el(ett )o**@s self-titled album was released on the ye $ecords label in !anuary 1969.

By far the most contro(ersial feature of the 'el(ett )o** album was the record co(er. It

displayed the pre-aul 3astment line-up of the band wearin* *arish make-upEbody-paint

and costume but also included two well-endowed youn* women wearin* nothin* but

strate*ically applied body paint.

This politically incorrect packa*e was accompanied by a typically obscure slee(enote by the influential 2.C. disc Fockey  !ohn eel who commented that 0there is a lot of 

*ood music on this record. $emember 'el(ett )o** - you will hear the name a*ain.0

Teltar &ingle

=lon* with the 'el(ett )o** album, ye $ecords also released a sin*le by the *roup. Itwas a co(er of The Tornados  classic instrumental  Telstar   which was recorded by the

 band as reGuested by !ack #orsey who hoped to cash in on the publicity surroundin* the

=merican moon landin*s takin* place at that time.

Band Dibanded

hile recei(in* some radio play, the record did not sell enou*h copies to chart and a bi*

ad(ertisin* campai*n

 planned by the record company to promote the album ne(er materialised.

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The band did some tourin* after the sin*le came out. erhaps discoura*ed by poor sales

of the 'el(ett )o** album, ye seemed to lose interest in the band so withdrew their 

 backin*. In the autumn of 1969 the *roup disbanded with the members *oin* their 

separate ways.

)rank ilson says 0I personally thou*ht the first line-up in ermany was the best and

most satisfyin*.0